Your Kind

Oh, boy! Kate's mind was spinning as she desperately tried to get hold of herself.

She was confused... And, then, what was new about that? She sneered at herself.

But, the thing was she had given up hope of catching Angel's eye a long time ago. Even before she learned he was a vampire, she had admitted to herself it

was highly unlikely that he would ever fall for her. He had never shown any signs of being romantically interested in her...

And, after that, she found the truth and it was so hard to cope with. Specially after her father's death... Kate vowed to herself then she would get over it.

Get over him.

He was a vampire. Even now, having come to terms with all that happened to her dad, Kate had difficulty facing the fact that Angel was what he was. Not because she was still trying to deny the existence of any evil things, no! Just because

he was... Well, good! And a friend.

At least, that was what she thought up to a few hours ago...

He had taken her completely by surprise and she hadn't known what to say. Should she have reacted differently?

She had made a complete fool of herself... She knew that! Standing there, in front of him, babbling like an idiot while the only guy who had been on her mind for the last two years told her...

Aw, she wished she had had a tape recorder with her. He had been so sweet...

Wake up, Kate!, she thought, banging herself on the head. The guy is a vampire!

A vampire! He may be good, but he's still a vampire. He'll always be!

Well, maybe if that prophecy is right... Oh, stop!

The music went on, but she wasn't really listening. There was too much racket

coming from inside her own head for her to pay any attention to it.

Yet, the familiar sounds seemed to comfort her somehow.

Kate had never been much into musicals. They were usually too mushy for her

taste. But she remembered how, back in the past, her mother would take her into

her loving arms and go swirling throughout the room to the sound of 'I Feel

Pretty'. They would laugh and sing... Well, all Kate sang was the La, la, la

part, but still...

The memories brought a smile to her face.

She had always wished her mother could have lived longer. Maybe she would be

able to help her through all this.

Oh, the confusion!

Suddenly, the melody caught her ear. It was 'A Boy Like That' playing.

Kate had never thought much of that particular song, but now...

"A boy like that will give you sorrow,

You'll meet another boy tomorrow.

One of your own kind!

Stick to your own kind!"

She remembered how she had told him she wanted to rid the city of his kind.

"A boy who kills cannot love,

A boy who kills has no heart.

And he's the boy who gets your love

And gets your heart.

Very smart, Maria, very smart!"

Oh, yeah! Very smart, indeed!

"A boy like that wants one thing only

And when he's done, he'll leave you lonely.

He'll murder your love; he murdered mine.

Just wait and see.

Just wait, Maria.

Just wait and see!"

She couldn't help wondering what exactly it was he wanted... Sex? Love? Romance?

Phhht! She was letting her mind go astray too far.

Then came Maria's response:

"Oh, no. Anita, no!

Anita, no!

It isn't true, not for me.

I's true for you, not for me.

I hear your words

And in my head

I know they're smart."

Listen to her, baby!

"But my heart, Anita, But my heart

Knows they're wrong

And my heart is too strong."

Tears were falling from eyes, now. Kate tried to fight them vainly. The music was getting to her, in spite of her resolve to stay away from Angel.

"For I belong

To him alone,

To him alone.

One thing I know:

I am his.

I don't care what he is!

I don't know why it's so.

I don't want to know!..."

Kate never bothered to turn off the stereo. She picked her purse and rushed to look for Angel.

My most sincere thanks to Leonard Bernstein for lending his song. Those of you who don't recognize it can get acquainted by listening to the score of West Side Story. It is mushy, but well worth while!